Method or art op and apparatus por conditioning printed paper



P. AITCHISQN. METHOD 08 ART OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING PRINTEDPAPER.

APPLICATION FILED AUELB. 1918.

Patented June 10, 1919.

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P. AITCHISON. METHOD OR ART OF AND APPARATUS FOR co'nnmoume PRINTEDPAPER.

APPLICATION FI LED AUG-6. 19H].

Patented June 10, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SE EN 2.

[NI/E 0/? BY 97 \ZQMA/MM i4 ATTORNEY.

r- NORRIS PEYERS m. ruum-umoq vasmncmu, u. r;

UNITED sTATEs PATENT onnrcn;

PETER AITCHISON, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BANKNOTE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OR ART OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING PRINTED PAPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1919.

Application filed August 6, 1918. Serial No. 248,635.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER ArroHIsoN, a subject of the King of the UnitedKingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at New Rochelle, in thecounty of W'estchester and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Methods or Art of and Apparatus forConditioning Printed Paper, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form apart thereof.

My invention relates to the method or art of, and apparatus for,conditioning printed paper, and more particularly to such a method orart, and such an apparatus, for receiving dampened sheets of paper whichhave received one or more impressions, and storing them preparatory tothe making of a succeeding impression, or impressions thereon.

In making imprints from planographic printing surfaces, and fromengraved, inliaglio, or under-surface printing plates, it has alwaysbeen essential to dampen the sheets of paper in order to secure a properimpression thereupon. WVhen two or more impressions are made upon asheet, upon the same or upon opposite sides thereof, it has been acommon practice to redampen the sheets between succeeding impressions,since a certain interval of time is required for the ink to properlydry, and during this interval there is a tendency of the paper to dryand to shrink by reason of the loss of moisture through evaporation.This shrinkage of the paper results in the loss of register ofsucceeding impressions, unless the moisture thus lost is restored by aredamping operation.

To avoid offsetting from one printed sheet to another, as the sheets arecollected, it has also been a common practice to use insert sheets ofdry tissue paper, which sheets, in actual practice, receive any ofi'setwhich occurs. Furthermore, there is always a likelihood of these insertsheets slightly defacing the imprint, and absorbing some of the moisturefrom the dampened paper, thus aggravating those conditions whichnecessitate redamping of the paper between succeeding impressionsthereon.

Repeated damping or wetting of paper also has a tendency to destroy thesurface finish of the paper, and cause irregularities therein, due torepeated expansion and shrinkage before the sheet is completely printed.

By the method or art of my invention, I am enabled to collect and storethe dampened sheets of paper under conditions which will not onlyminimize, or. avoid, offsetting of any description, but. will preventthe evaporation of moisture from the dampened sheet to an extent toadmit of themaking of a number of succeeding impressions upon the samesheet of paper without the necessity for redamping the paper.Furthermore, each sheet of paper,'after each impression thereon, issubjected to pressure conditions which will not only tend to preserve auniform surface finish throughout each sheet, but will also have theeffect of expelling and excluding air from adjacent the paper, in amanner to check any tendency toward a loss of uniformity in the degreeof the dampness of the paper in different portions thereof.

By the practice of the method or art of my invention, the paper, duringthe entire period in which the various'iinpressions are made thereon,

thereof as would result in such distortion as would necessitate arefinishing of the paper after the final impression has been madethereon.

To facilitate the practice of my method or art, Iemploy a specialapparatus which may be associated with the collecting mechanism of aprinting press. This apparatus is so constructed as to receive theprinted sheets directly from said collecting mechanism and to subjectthem to the various steps of the method or art under conditions whichwill secure the desired results. By the use of this apparatus, eachsheet, after it is printed, will have the opposite sides thereofpresented to a surface, which will prevent offsetting of the ink and theescape of moisture from the sheet. At the same time the apparatus is soconstructed as to insure the application of the desired light pressureto each sheet, this pressure being uniform as to all sheets delivered bysaid. collecting mechanism. At the same time, any air which may bepocketed between the printed sheet and this other sheet, will beexpelled therefrom.

The apparatus is so constructed as to be is kept under conditions whichwill prevent such expansion and contraction expel any air edpape'randsaid strip, which might have a capable of such adjustment as willsynchronize it under various conditions of use With the functionings ofthe collecting mechanism. Other cl'iaracteristijcs of this apparatuswill appear from the accompanying drawings, and the detailed descriptionof said apparatus herein contained.

The invention consists in a method or art of conditioning printed paper,consisting in the novel steps and practices, and in an ap paratus forthe practice of said method or therein the novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter set forth anddescribed and more particularly pointed out in the claims heretoappend-ed.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus especially designed for thepractice of the method or art of my invention; and

'Fifgr 2 is a plan View "of a portion thereof.

Like letters refer to like parts in both of said views.

In the practice 'of my method or art, each sheet ofrlampened paper,after it has received an impression from a pl anographic, or anengraved, intaglio, or under surface printing plate, is inserted betweenopposed surfaces having a coatingofa non-fluid substance, insoluble bythe thumping fluid with which the paper issa'turated, 'and having noaffinity for the oily or greasy vehicle of the ink. These-surfacesare ailorded by a continuous strip or web of paper, or other flexiblematerial, coated upon both sides with ceresin wax, Japan wax, iparaflinwax, or other analogous material having no affinity for the Vehicle ofthe ink. The coating of this material presents a substantiallycontinuous surface, closing the spores of the palper, orotherinaterial,to arr-extent to exclude air from the printed, dampened sheet, and:prevent the escape of 'nioisture therefrom. In this manner offsettingof the ink upon said surface and the drying of the printed sheet, is:prevented.

Ton-void distortionoof the printed sheet With a resultant necessity forrefinishing, I subject it to a continuing uniform pressure appliedthrough the coated paper, orother flexible strip, which pressure issuflicient to keep' thefprinted sheet, and said strip of paper or otherunaterial, perfectly smooth, while being insufiicient to, smut or spreadthe lincs'of the imprint. By keeping the printed paper, and said strip,smooth, I avoid the formationof air pockets adjacent the surface-ofthepape-igor of air ducts resulting fromcreases, cracks-or folds in thepaper,-and-atthe sametimeam enabled to imprisoned between the printart,embodying tendencyto dry isolated spots ofthe surface of the paper.Furthermore, the application of-aslightipressure will have'the effect ofdiffusing the fluid with which the paper is dampened, throughout theentire body of the paper, and maintain a uniform dampened condition ofthe paper.

To facilitate the rapid handling of the printed sheets as they leave thecollecting mechanism of a press, I Wind a strip of the coated paper, orother material, into a roll, while maintaining a tensioning stress uponsaid strip, the sheets of printed paper being laid upon this strip andwound within the roll while it is being formed. After a full length ofthe coated strip, or other i-naterial, has been wound into a roll, theroll, With the printed sheets therein, is allowed to stand until saidsheets are required for a succeeding run thereof through the press, thusstoring a-l-l of the sheets under conditions which will prevent theirdrying between runs.

The tensioning stresses not only keep the coated strip of paper, orother material, taut and smooth, but will exert suiiicient pressure uponthe printed, dampened sheets, to keep them flat and smooth, and inaddition thereto, Will-squeeze out any air which may be imprisonedbetween the printed sheet and the strip "as the printed sheet isgradually Wound within the roll.

Under some conditions, repeatedruns oi the paper through a press, willafford opportunity for the dampened sheets to lose some of theirmoisture, but I have found that-this may be restored by slightlydampening either, or both surfaces of the coated strip.

The width of the coated strip or paper, or other material, should besuch as to project beyond the edges of the printed sheet to an extent toprevent the entrance of air adjacent the edges of said printed sheet.

In addition to preventing the loss of moisture from the dampened sheet,the practice of my methodor art will tend-to secure and maintainauniform diffusion of this moisture in the sheet, ,preserving thedesired mellow condition of the paper.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustratedan apparatus by means ofwhich the inethod or art-of my invention maybe automatically carriedout.This apparatus comprises a reel (4 removably mounted in suitablebearings -Z),-so as to permit the removalof-one reel with the-dampenedpaper and the protecting strip thereon, and the substitution of anotherreel to permit the continued collection and storage of the printedsheets.

Removably mounted in suitable hearings in the frame 0, is a supply reel(Z for the coated strip of paper, or other material, a. The strip 6.p-asses over a suitable guide roller or rollers f, from the reel (Z -tothe reel a.

The frame 0 carries tapes 9, said tapes being adjacent thereach of thestrip w between the guide roller f and the reel a. The tapes h conveythe sheets from the delivery cylinder ofthe printing press to the tapes9. By this mechanism each printed sheet, as it is delivered from theprinting press, is laid flat upon the strip 6, being conveyed thereby tothe reel 0; upon which the strip 6 is wound, one surface of the printedsheet being engaged with the portion of the strip 6 upon which it islaid, and the other surface thereof being brought into engagement with apreviously wound portion of said strip.

The reel (1 is continuously rotated by means of a friction drivemechanism, so constructed as to permit a gradual reduction in the speedof rotation of the reel a with the increased diameter of the roll as itis formed thereon. This mechanism, in the form of the invention shown,comprises a friction wheel 2' adapted to actuate the reel (4, whichwheel bears upon two friction wheels 7' and is, driven by means of gearsj and 7:, carried by the wheels 3' and in respectively, which gears arein mesh with a gear wheel m rotated by a friction disk at. The gear mand disk n are idly mounted upon a shaft m. One end of said shaft mcarries a bearing m for a shaft 79, having splined, or otherwiseslidably mounted thereon, a friction wheel Q bearing upon, and adaptedto have movement radially of, the disk n. The shaft p carries a bevelgear p meshing with a gear 72 driven by means of a chain and sprocketmechanism 79 from any desired source of power, synchronized with thefunctionings of the sheet delivering mechanism of the printing press.

The gear m and friction disk 92 are con nected by means of studs 92carried by the disk n, and projecting through suitable openings in thegear m. Springs 0 encircle said studs, and thrust the disk a into thedesired frictional engagement with the wheel g, and automatically takeup any wear upon either of said members.

The friction wheel z'bears upon the wheels j and is, which are flangedas shown, the said wheel 2' being mounted in fixed bearings, andcarrying a pintle bearing 2" engaging the reel 0.

The strip 6 is placed under a uniform tension by means of a frictionwheel 7* carried by the reel (Z, and a band brake 1 set by means of thespring r cooperating therewith. I

To permit a variation in the speed of drive of the reel a, I groove thehub of the friction wheel 9, and provide a rocking arm 8 having suitablepins 8 acting in said groove, said arm being actuated by means of thegear 8 carried thereby, and an actuating gear t meshing therewith, andhaving a crank arm 25.

The standards a supporting the friction drive mechanism, one of saidstandards bemay be moved radially are provided with an adjustable head21/ supporting the shaft m, said head being ad' justa'bly mounted uponsaid standards by means of the rack and pinion mechanism 1), which maybe actuated by the handle 01 to cause the friction wheels j and to bemoved into, or out of, engagement with the wheel 2'.

In the accompanying drawings, the printed sheets of paper are indicatedat 20.

The operation of the herein described apparatus is substantially asfollows As each sheet receives an imprint, it is conveyed by the tapesit toward the frame 0 and delivered to the tapes g. From said last namedtapes, each sheet is laid upon the reach of the strip 6 between theguide roller 7 and the reel a. The tapes 9 and it are continuouslyactuated in the usual and well known manner, the strip 0 being moved atsubstantially the same rate of speed by the mechanism 10 the shaft 79and the friction drive mechanism actuated thereby. As the strip 6 iswound upon the reel a, the sheets to will be wound within the saidstrip, the desired tension upon the strip, suflicient to keep itperfectly smooth and apply a light pressure to the sheets w, beingsecured by means of the band brake r acting upon the wheel 9".

As the diameter of the roll upon the reel (4 gradually increases, thefriction wheel Q of the disk it, upon the shaft 79, by means of thelever s and its actuating mechanism, thus permitting the desiredreduction in the R. P. M. of the reel a, to compensate for a tendencytoward an increase in the rate of travel of the strip 6 by reason of thegradual increase in the diameter of the roll upon said reel. Byutilizing a friction drive, such slippage may occur as to minimize thistendency toward an increase of the rate of travel of the strip 6,however.

If it be desired to run a press without actuating the reel. a, as duringthe make ready, the friction wheels j7c are dropped by means of the rackand pinion mechanism 1 and its operating handle 1), sufficiently to movethe wheels jk out of the operative relation with the wheel z.

By spacing the reel a away from the tapes 9, sufiicient time is allowedto inspect the imprints, while they are traveling upon the strip 6.

An apparatus having the mode of opera.- tion heretofore described, iscapable of performing the various steps of the method or art of myinvention, automatically, and has the additional advantage that itrequires no manual handling of the printed sheets and will receive thesheets and treat them at' a speed commensurate with the speed ofoperation of the printing press.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent thatsuch may be varied without departing from the spirit and. scope of theinvention.

Having described the invention what I claim as new, and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein described method or art of conditioning printed paper,consisting of bringing a printed, dampened sheet of paper between twosurfaces, each coated with a substance having no affinity for the oilyor greasy vehicle of the ink and renderin said materialimpenetrable toatmosphere and substantially non-absorbent, applying pressure, to saidpaper while between said surfaces, whereby air will be expelled fromad:- jacent the surface of said paper, and allowing said sheets to standin contact with said surfaces until required for another run through thepress, whereby the ink of said paper is prevented from offsetting uponsaid surfaces, and the moisture is retained in, and is diffusedthroughout, said paper.

2. The herein described method or art of conditioning printed paper,consisting of bringing a printed, dampened sheet of paper between two,surfaces, each coated with a substance having no affinity for the oilyor greasy vehicle of the ink and rendering said material impenetrable toatmosphere and substantlally non-absorbent, maintaining v said coatedmaterial smooth while bringing the dampened paper in contacttherewithapplying pressure to said paper while between said surfaces, whereby airwill be expelled from adjacent the surface of said paper, and allowingsaid sheets to stand in contact with said surfaces until required foranother run through the press, whereby the ink of said paper isprevented from offsetting upon said surfaces, and themoisture isretained in, and is diffused throughout, said paper.

3. The herein described method or art of conditioning printed paper,consisting of winding succeeding printed, dampened sheets of paperwithin a strip of material having the opposite sides thereof coated witha substance having no affinity for the oily or greasy vehicle of the inkand rendering said material impenetrable to atmos phere andsubstantially non-absorbent, applying pressure to said paper throughsaid material, whereby air will be expelled from adjacent the surface ofsaid paper, and allowing said sheets to stand in contact with saidmaterial until; required for another run through the press, whereby the,ink of said paper is prevented from offsetting upon said matericl, andthe molstnre 1s retamed 1n, and diffused throughout, said paper.

l. The herein described method or art of conditioning printed paper,consisting of v-zinding succeeeing printed, dampened sheets of paperwithin a strip of material having the opposite sides thereof coated witha substance having no affinity for the oily or greasy vehicle of the inkand rendering said material impenetrable to atmosphere and substantiallynon-absorbent, applying tensioning pressure to said material while thesheets are being wound therein, whereby air will be expelled fromadjacent the surface of said paper, and allowing said sheets to standin. contact with said material until required for another run throughthe press, whereby the ink of said paper is prevented fronr offsettingupon said material, and the moisture is retained in, and diffusedthroughout, said paper.

The herein described method or art of conditioning printed paper,consisting of bringing printed, dampened sheet of paper between twosurfaces, each coated with a substance having no affinity for the oilyor greasy vehicle of the ink and renderingsaid material impenetrable toatmosphere and substantially non-absorbent, applying pressure to saidpaper while between said surfaces, whereby air will be expelled fromadjacent the surface of said paper, renewing moisture in said. sheets bydampening at least one of said: surfaces, prior to bringing the sheetsin engagement therewith, and allowing said sheets to stand in contactwith said surfaces until required for another run through the press,whereby the ink of said paper is prevented from offsetting upon saidsurfaces, and the moisture is retained in, and is diffused throughout,said paper.

6; An apparatus for conditioning printed paper embodying therein awinding reel adapted to, have wound thereon, a strip of material havingthe opposite sides thereof coated with a substance having no affinityfor the oilyor greasy vehicle of the ink, and rendering said materialimpenetrable to atmosphere and substantially non-absorbent, a supportfor a supply reel of said strip, and means whereby said winding reel maybe rotated to} form a; roll, of said strip, with printed, dampenedsheets of paper inclosed therein,

7,. An apparatusfor conditioning printed paper embodying therein awindingreel adapted to have woundv thereon, a strip. of material havingthe opposite sides thereof coated with a substance having no affinityfor the oily or greasy vehicle of the ink, and rendering said materialimpenetrable to atmosphere and substantially non-absorbent, a supportfor a supply reel of said strip, means associated with the deliverymechanism of a press, whereby succeeding printed sheets will be laidupon said strip intermediate said winding reel and; said supply reel,and means whereby said wind ing reel may be rotated to form a roll ofsaid strip, with printed, dampened sheets of paper inclosed therein.

An apparatus for conditioning printed paper embodying therein a windingreel adapted to have wound thereon, a strip of material having theopposite sides thereof coated with a substance having no affinity forthe oily or greasy vehicle of the ink, and rendering said materialimpenetrable to atmosphere and substantially non-absorbent, a supportfor a supply reel of said strip, means associated With the deliverymechanism of a press, whereby succeeding printed sheets will be laidupon said strip intermediate said winding reel and said supply reel,means whereby said winding reel may be rotated to form a roll of saidstrip, with printed, dampened sheets of paper inclosed therein, andmeans whereby the speed of rotation of said winding reel may be variedto accord with the variance in the diameter of the roll of stripthereon, to insure a substantially uniform rate of travel of said strip.

9. An apparatus for conditioning printed paper embodying therein awinding reel adapted to have wound thereon, a strip of material havingthe opposite sides thereof coated with a substance having no affinityfor the oily or greasy vehicle of the ink, and rendering said materialimpenetrable to atmosphere and substantially non-absorbent, a supportfor a supply reel of said strip, means whereby said winding reel may berotated to form a roll of said strip, with printed, dampened sheets ofpaper inclosed therein, and means applying a tensioning pressure to saidstrip of material as it is being wound upon said winding reel.

An apparatus for conditioning printed paper embodying therein a windingreel adapted to have wound thereon, a strip of material having theopposite sides thereof coated with a substance having no aflinity forthe oily or greasy vehicle of the ink, and rendering said materialimpenetrable to atmosphere and substantially non-absorbent, a supportfor a supply reel of said strip, means associated with the deliverymechanism of a press, whereby succeeding printed sheets will be laidupon said strip intermediate said winding reel and said supply reel,means whereby said Winding reel may be rotated to form a roll of saidstrip, with printed, dampened sheets of paper inclosed therein, meanswhereby the speed of rotation of said winding reel may be varied toaccord with the variance in the diameter of the roll of strip thereon,to insure a substantially uniform rate of travel of said strip, andmeans applying a tensioning pressure to said strip of material as it isbeing wound upon said Winding reel.

11. An apparatus for conditioning printed paper embodying therein awinding reel adapted to lHUE wound thereon, a strip of material havingthe opposite sides thereof coated with a substance having no aflinityfor the oily or greasy vehicle of the ink, and rendering said materialimpenetrable to atmosphere and substantially non-absorbent, a supportfor a supply reel of said strip, a friction wheel adapted to apply powerto said Winding reel, a friction disk, a plurality of friction wheelsoperatively engaging the friction wheel applying power to said reel,gears connecting same with said friction disk, a friction wheelcooperating with said disk, and means whereby said last named frictionwheel may be moved radially of said disk to vary the speed of rotationthereof, and of said reel.

12. An apparatus for conditioning printed paper embodying therein awinding reel adapted to have wound thereon, a strip of material havingthe opposite sides thereof coated with a substance having no affinityfor the oily or greasy vehicle of the ink, and rendering said materialimpenetrable to atmosphere and substantially non-absorbent, a supportfor a supply reel of said strip, a friction wheel adapted to apply powerto said winding reel, a friction disk, a plurality of friction wheelsoperatively engaging the friction wheel applying powerto said reel,gears connecting same with said friction disk, a friction'wheelcooperating with said disk means whereby said last named friction wheelmay be moved radially of said disk to vary the speed of rotationthereof, and of said reel, and means whereby the friction wheel drivingsaid winding reel and the. friction wheels cooperating therewith, may beseparated to prevent actuation of said reel.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature this 23 day ofJuly, 1918, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER AITCHISON. Witnesses LOUISE K. Weiss, ELSIE ALDRICH.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

